Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-22
HOW PEOPLE EAT DINNERS.
Peeps at Royal Tables Where Coed
Things are served.

hibRs arc ScEtcus
A strict ceremonial OF the dinners OF
Queen Victoria has not changed since her
assumption OF the throne. A quarter OF
an hour before the tine fixed for the re-
past-generally 8 o'clock-all the party
invited to dine with the Queen meet in
the grand salon and form themselves into
haii-cii Gle about the door where she is
expected to enter, says Harper's Bazaar.
The Queen, on entering, makes beauu-
full courtesy (for which she Is re-
nowned), then BOWS to the gentle
men and gives her hand TO the
ladies, who courtesy deeply. She
then goes in first to table, accompanied
generally by one OF her sons. II any i'm
perlal or royal person is present, he sits
at her right hand. But even in the case
OF Gen. Grant sne placed the Princess
Beatrice between them. The Queen never
removes her gloves during dinner, except
at state banquets. This is a singular
piece of etiquette, and one would think it
would be exactly the reverse, Her gloves
are new, or white kid embroidered with
black, never worn but once, and become,
after using, the perquislles OF the ladies'
in-waiting. The Queen has a small and
beautiful hand.
As soon as she has finished a certain
plat every one else stops eating of it.
rs when she finishes her fish every one
else stops eating fish, etc. After she has
spoken to her guests On either side con-
versation may become general, but in Il
Subdued tone, always deferrIng to the
sovereign. Sir Arthur Helps, who was
her private secretary, used to tell an
amusing anecdOte OF being snubbed by
her for telling a rather funny story down
tine table. among the Iadies-in-w aiting, to
relieve the mOuotony of a dreary dinner.
when the Queen remarked: what is il?
We are not amused" She has, however,
a love OF fun, and sometimes laughs
heartily.
The dinners az the Quirlnal are tar
more SIMPLE as to etiquette. The came
i0rmslity is observed IN the entrance o.
the King and Queen. but the conversa-
tion is more general, and the Queen does
not wear Der gloves. She converses in
English fuently. The King only speaks
Italian and French, so the conversation
is generally ia these two languages,
French, OF course, is supposed to be a
universal language.
The dinners OF Germany are net long,
but they are formal and tedious, and the
cooking does not commend itself to all
tastes.
The perfection OF a dinner Is found in
London, generally at the houses OF am
bassadors, VINO combine the excellence
of all nstions with the follies OF none. At
ter asking the consent OF the ladies' pres
ent the Italian aud Turkish embassies al
low the smoking of cigarettes between
the Salad and dessert. This fashion pre-
walls in France and Russia, ladies smok-
Ing quite 10 freely as men. The dinners
OF the Gar and the richer Russian
princes are models OF their kind. 1t was
the Russians VINO invented The idea of
serving the dishes all from the outs de;
hence service a la Russo, which pre-
vents the table cloth from being smeared
with gravy and other greasy substances.
The CHOICE porcelain and glass, tue 20 d
and silver, beautiful ornaments-ihese
are the wonder OF ali travellers who visit
Russia.
America, having begun to import cooks,
now rtya ; ali countries in tue art OF din
ner-givIDg. The fine uapery OF Berlin.
the glass OF BOnemia, the gold and silver
work OF Russia. the chOlce dinner SER
vices OF England, the delicate iancies of
France az 10 pretty dishes Tor the ices,
and the general tastefulness of Ameri-
can women ind expression in these din
ners.
The Princess Louise and the Marquis of
Lorne live at kenslngtOn palace, one Of
the most curious and romantic OF all the
royat palaces. Tney give beautiful din-
ners, and are said to have The most
charming tab equipments.
The old fashion has returned again OF a
sort of elevated tray or little table in the
middle OF tue table, on ~hich are placed
the choice silver jugs, ornamental piec e,
aud the flowers. tTu Is, caudled fruits
indeed. ornamented pieces OF the dinner.
This sort of tray, to be at its best, should
be OF inlaid wood. bound in silver. and Of
the time OF Louis Quiuze. A real antique
OF this KIND is highly priced in France,
England and Italy. For the breakfast
table rotating round china standard, in
Two parts, for the Jam, honey, butter,
powdered sugar, ported meats, ETC.,, and
other belongings Of a breakfast, is almost
universal in England.